Paint color testing method

ABSTRACT

A kit and method for testing the color of paints to be applied to painted surfaces having primers or sealers thereon to determine if a paint color matches that of a painted surface. Preferably, the kit comprises a plurality of testing members removably mounted therein or thereon. The testing members have different primers or sealers thereon corresponding to those on different known painted surfaces. When a paint is to be applied to an area of a specific painted surface, the paint is first applied to one of the testing members having thereon the same primer or sealer as that on the painted surface. The painted testing member then is moved to a position adjacent the painted surface to compare the color of the paint on the testing member to that of the painted surface.

This application is a division of application Ser. No. 07/693,597, filedApr. 30, 1991.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a paint color testing kit and methodand, more particularly, to such a kit that can be used to substantiallyduplicate the surface on which the paint is to be applied so that anaccurate color comparison can be made between paint applied to a testingmember of the kit and the painted surface to be repaired.

In the repair of automobile bodies, for example, it is common practiceto spray a small amount of paint on the repaired area to determine if itmatches the paint on the surrounding undamaged area of the body. Thisprocedure is often repeated many times before a proper color match iseffected, resulting in a build-up of numerous layers of paint on therepaired area. These unnecessary layers of paint can adversely affectthe appearance of the repaired area and will often result in thedevelopment of cracks in the repaired and painted surface because ofexcessive layers of paint thereon.

A need has arisen, therefore, for a simple and effective method ofcomparing the color of a paint to be applied to a repaired area of anautomobile body or the like to the color of the surrounding undamagedarea without the build-up of excessive paint on the repaired area. Thepaint color testing kit and method of the present invention meet thisneed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with the kit and method of the present invention, aplurality of paint color testing members are provided which havedifferent primers or sealers impregnated therein or coated thereon. Theprimers or sealers correspond to those used by different automobilemanufacturers or to those of different paint manufacturers. When arepaired area is to be repainted, therefore, the paint to be used isfirst applied to one of the testing members having the primer or sealerthereon corresponding to that of the surface to be repainted. Thepainted testing member then is positioned adjacent to the paintedsurface surrounding the area to be repainted to determine a proper colormatch.

Because the testing member duplicates the primer or sealer on thepainted surface, an accurate color match is easily effected without abuild-up of any unnecessary paint on the surface to be repainted. Thetesting members can be provided in a kit form where they are removablysupported on or in a support device of any suitable construction. Such akit is simple in construction, easy to manufacture and inexpensive incost.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a paint color testing kitconstructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention;and

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of an automobile in schematic formshowing the use of a paint color testing member from the kit of FIG. 1to properly match the paint to be applied to a repaired area of theautomobile body to the paint on the surrounding area of the body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a paint color testing kit 10constructed in accordance with the present invention. The kit 10comprises a plurality of elongated testing members 12 of any suitablesize, shape or construction, preferably having a handle portion 14 and atesting portion 16. The testing members 12 may be formed of any suitablematerial, such as plastic or wood.

The testing members 12 are removably mounted on or in a support deviceof any suitable construction such as the support panel 18 shown in FIG.1 which has a plurality of hook members 20 or the like on which thetesting members 12 are hung through the use of apertures 22 in thehandle portions 14 thereof. In this manner, the testing members 12 canbe easily stored in kit form and are readily identifiable and accessiblefor use. The testing members and/or the support panel may have indiciathereon for the purpose of identifying different testing members. Thesupport panel 18 can be mounted on any suitable support means such as awall (not shown) or the like.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the testingportions 16 of the testing members 12 have different primers or sealers24, 26, 28, 30 and 32 impregnated therein or coated thereon. The primersor sealers 24-32 correspond, for example, to those used by differentautomobile manufacturers on their automobile bodies or to those ofdifferent manufacturers of paints for various purposes. The specificnature of the different primers or sealers on the testing members 12would be determined by the use of the paint color testing kit 10, i.e.,for paint to be applied to an automobile body or for paint to be appliedto another surface in a different environment. The present invention,therefore, contemplates the use of different paint color testing kits tobe used in different environments.

In the practice of the method of the present invention, when a portionof a painted surface is to be repainted because of repair or the likethe paint to be used is first applied to one of the testing members 12having a primer or sealer thereon corresponding to that of the surfaceto be repainted. The painted testing member 12 then is positionedadjacent to the painted surface surrounding the area to be repainted todetermine if the color of the paint on the testing member properlymatches the paint on the painted surface. This is illustrated in FIG. 2wherein the painted testing member 12, having the same primer thereon asthe automobile body A, is positioned adjacent to the area of the bodysurrounding the repaired area R to determine if the new paint on thetesting member properly matches the old paint on the automobile body.

It will be readily seen, therefore, that an accurate color match can beeffected with the use of the present invention for the reason that thepainted testing member 12 has the same primer or sealer thereon as thatof the surface to be painted. Also, the color match can be effectedwithout a build-up of any unnecessary paint on the area to be repainted.

While in accordance with the patent statute the preferred forms andembodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, itwill be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that variouschanges and modifications may be made without deviating from theinventive concepts set forth above.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of testing the color of a paint to be applied to a painted surface having a primer or sealer thereon to determine if the paint color matches that of the painted surface, comprising the steps of:providing a portable testing member; applying to said testing member a primer or sealer that is the same as that of the painted surface; applying the paint to a portion of said testing member having the primer or sealer thereon; and moving said testing member to a position adjacent to the painted surface to compare the color of the paint on said testing member to that of the painted surface. 